Divinity: Original Sin Reviews
However, it's by no means a terrible game. There's a ridiculous amount of fun to be had with combat alone if you can look past these issues. There's even a co-op mode that will add some re-playability. Nonetheless, Larian Studios had plenty of ambition with this game, but just couldn't live up to the hype.
It feels like there's a very good game inside Divinity: Original Sin, but it's hidden away behind a thousand glitches and gameplay problems. At its core there lies an enjoyable experience, and those brave enough to reach it will likely sing its praises. If you're willing to battle through obscure systems, poorly designed menus, gameplay issues, a legion of bugs and glitches, and poor support from Larian Studios, you just might find something worth playing. For most, however, it will be a different story. Video games are a form of entertainment, but unfortunately, as the problems mount and mount, this one veers more towards frustration than entertainment. Ultimately, it's difficult to recommend any game which provides more negative moments than positive ones, and that is precisely the kind of game you'll find in Divinity: Original Sin.
I'm not sure Original Sin has a clue what it's about, beyond "feeling like an old game." It gets more strung out as you go along, introducing towns that feel curiously bereft of quests and dungeons padded out with tedious switch hunts. There's no strong character to center it, no perspective to ground it, no consistent challenge to weight it. It's an impressive novelty, but it fades fast.
Divinity: Original Sin might not be an instant classic, but it certainly feels like one at times. During parts of my playthrough I felt as though I was replaying Baldur's Gate, without the terrible graphics and archaic mechanics, but I don't know if it was truly unique enough to be remembered like the games it was attempting to emulate. It's going to please a lot of experienced RPG gamers and those that love a challenge, but with virtually no hand holding and punishing combat mechanics it's going to turn off the more casual player base.
A game that does well as a single-player RPG, and does well as a vast, exploration-based semi-open-world adventure, but excels at neither. Better than many of the RPGs in its ancestry, it nonetheless suffers from frustrating NPC engagement and lacks the intelligent storyline required to make it a classic of the genre.
Divinity: Original Sin is a detailed and engrossing RPG with great combat and a healthy dose of charm, but the weak central narrative, goofy tone and myriad moments where you don't know what to do or where to go greatly mar the experience.
Divinity: Original Sin is likely to be an extremely polarizing game. While many hardcore RPG fans will love its old-school style and fans of innovation in gaming can find a lot to love in its creative character interaction and environmental damage systems, it also presents gamers with a tough ride right out of the gate.
Divinity: Original Sin is an homage to a RPG style that as long since faded, with the genre now flooded with overblown storylines and photorealistic cinematics. Yet there is still a strong audience that has been clinging to the hope that a quality turn-based fantasy would reappear. Larian Studios has delivered on our wishes by providing a world ripe for discovery, and gameplay that gives as much freedom and roleplaying options as we could ever hope for.
If there's ever been a time to throw out the words "Indie" or "Developed on a budget" then now is the time. As it proves that time, effort, fan feedback, and passion, are more important than high budgets, annual recycling, scripted Hollywood aesthetics, and glorified tech demos.
Technical issues aside, this enhanced re-release of one of our favorite games of recent memory is worth a buy.
With more than 80 hours of gameplay and a toolkit to create your own levels Divinity: Original Sin harks back to the golden age of single player RPGs. This is a very good thing.
Eventually Divinity: Original Sin might find it's most blissful balance, but right now it really needs to be considered a work in progress.
Divinity: Original Sin is a classic RPG from top to bottom. Unfortunately some of those older elements could have used some extra polish and improvement. However, for those looking to relive the glory days of PC RPG's this is the game for you.
They may not make games like this anymore, but maybe they should. Larian's latest CRPG is a deeply satisfying turn-based adventure that rewards players with patience.
The roleplaying potential presented in quests and dialogue options puts Divinity: Original Sin decidedly above its peers in most aspects, but leaves room for improvement down the line
While in my opinion it has a few flaws that hold it back from true all-time-classic status Divinity: Original Sin is an excellent, beautifully designed and engaging RPG that absolutely never gets boring.
Divinity: Original Sin is an amazing RPG experience. It falls a bit flat on characterization and writing on occasion, but nails just about everything else. It does a great job of compelling players to roleplay their on-screen characters, putting the "RP" back into RPG. This is a game that any fan of the genre will adore, and is sure to suck in new players and teach them what the genre is all about. It's a love letter, and deserves to be loved back.
Divinity: Original Sin is an absolute masterpiece of a game. It goes to great lengths to let newer gamers experience the CRPG genre but with a modern twist on it.
A game any true RPG fan should be impatient to play.
A little obtuse in places, but otherwise this is the best new RPG in years. Demands your time and your brain, but it's worth it.